Gold Rises As Worries About World Economy Spur Safety Buying

Metal Hits Highest Level Since Sept. 17

NEW YORK—Gold prices rose to the highest level in nearly four weeks as growth jitters burnished the appeal of relatively safe investments.

Investors in recent days have sold stocks and other assets sensitive to the outlook for the global economy, scooping up traditional havens such as Treasurys and the Japanese yen. That shift also has lifted prices of gold, which had fallen out of favor with many money managers in the past two...